Incident Overview
A pilot reported an incident during landing in gusting wind conditions. As the aircraft flared and the pilot expected to touch down, engine power was reduced. This was followed by a balloon, a hard landing, and a bounce. During a subsequent second bounce, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then veered left, exited the runway, and came to a stop in a nose-down attitude.
Damage Assessment
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the firewall. No other damage details were provided.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The landing was attempted on runway 23. The reported wind was 260° at 11 knots, gusting to 17 knots.